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A Mechanic's Car Tips

car mechanic working on the tire on a blue car.

Your Mechanic Isn’t Fooling Around: Car Tips That Actually Work

Whenever a mechanic recommends a part replacement or an upgrade during your car’s routine service, you often become skeptical and defensive. Blame those age-old preconceived notions about mechanics.

By The Editors

Thu, Aug 5, 2021 01:13 PM PST

While every mechanic out there is vying for your money, not all of them resort to dishonest means to squeeze money out of you. But it’s hard to distinguish what's what. In this article, we have compiled a list of car tips that mechanics usually throw around. And despite your speculations, these tips actually work.

Let’s start with the ones that you must pay attention to, no matter what.

1. Wheel Alignment

Most car owners tend to skimp on wheel alignment and wheel balancing. The main reason is they don’t see any immediate benefits. But when you think long-term, regular wheel alignment and tire rotation can save you a lot of money by increasing your tires’ life significantly.

great-looking threads on a relatively old tire on a red car.
20k miles, yet they still look this good!

I took this picture of my car’s front tire today just to demonstrate the positive long-term benefits of wheel alignment. Can you believe this brand-new looking tire has run 20k miles? The tread looks the same to me as it was when the tires were newly purchased. They haven’t lost a shred of rubber since then. All thanks to regular wheel alignment, balancing and rotation. 

In three years, I've had a wheel alignment done four times. And at this rate, I’m expecting my tires to last more than 60k miles... Still not convinced of the benefits of wheel alignment? Compare the cost of wheel alignment to the cost of replacing all four tires every 30k miles... Yeah, wheel alignments quickly pay for themselves.

2. Changing The Engine Oil Before Its Due

Car manufacturers recommend changing the engine oil every 8k miles. But once your car completes 50k miles, your mechanic might insist you get the engine oil changed every 6k miles, especially if your car is mostly driven around in the city’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. This is a valuable piece of advice that you must follow, as doing so can add several years to your engine’s life.

When you change the engine oil before its time, you are saving your engine from any friction due to the reduced lubrication. As a result, your engine continues to run under the best conditions and prevents major wear and tear.

3. Using High-Quality Parts

Everyone likes to drive but nobody wants to spend a few extra dollars on maintenance. In a bid to reduce their car’s maintenance cost, most car owners end up shaving years off their car’s life. While it’s tempting to use a cheap aftermarket part, it does more harm than good in the long run. On the other hand, OEM parts are outrageously expensive. They can burn a hole in your pocket - not an overstatement by any means.

Therefore, it is important to find the middle ground between quality and price. This is where high-quality replacement parts from online auto parts warehouses strike the perfect balance. Built to last with exact specifications as OEM, these high-quality parts are a game-changer for car owners.

4. Changing the cabin filter(s)

Sure, it does sometimes feel like an unnecessary expense but changing the cabin filter(s) regularly is crucial to your respiratory health. The cabin air filter traps the dust and allergens and allows only fresh air to circulate inside the cabin. After a point when the filter gets clogged, it doesn’t work as intended and struggles to maintain the desired air quality. And when the quality of air declines, it often triggers allergic reactions. So next time your mechanic recommends changing the cabin filter, pay heed.

Summary

When it comes to car maintenance, having knowledge about what’s best for your car can save you from getting ripped off or buying services that you don’t need, such as anti-rust coating, ceramic paint coating, etc. But don't skimp on the important details we've mentioned above.

This article was compiled by the editors of LACar.

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